Korean artist DJ Soda says she was ‘harassed,’ kicked off flight over her ‘f*ck you’ sweatpants

April 27, 2022

Popular South Korean artist DJ Soda, 36, claims she was “harassed” before being kicked off an American Airlines flight for wearing pants deemed “offensive.”

DJ Soda, whose real name is Hwang So-hee, posted on her Instagram and Twitter that she was on the way from JFK airport to LAX when American Airlines kicked her off her flight and “harassed” her in front of other passengers to take off her black sweatpants, which were emblazoned all over with “F*CK,” “F*CK YOU” and “F*CKIN.”

She says she was traveling for the fourth week of her Starlight Tour and adds that she has “never had an issue” with her pants, which were sponsored by clothing company Ripndip, in her “many months of touring in North America.”

While American Airlines did not seemingly have a problem with her pants during check-in nor when she got to her seat, a staff member approached DJ Soda while she was “enjoying [her] welcome drink” in her business class seat before take-off, the artist says.

According to DJ Soda’s caption, she was told to “pack up” her belongings and “leave the plane” without “any kind of explanation.” It was only after she had been escorted off that they purportedly told her her sweatpants were “inappropriate” and “offensive” and that she would have to take the next flight.

DJ Soda says she further explained that she had an important meeting scheduled in Los Angeles that day and could “not afford to get off” the flight. She “pleaded” with staff to be allowed on, only to be “ignored” and “denied.”

She says she then proceeded to take off her pants and stand “half-naked” in front of the plane’s entire crew. She was finally let back on after she wore her pants “inside out.” She wrote that she was “mortified and trembling in fear” for the six-hour duration of her flight.

“In my 8 years of touring, I have never experienced or been treated unfairly, especially in a country that is known for its freedom of speech and individuality,” she shared. “From now on, I will be boycotting American Air and hope this NEVER happens to anyone ever again.”

In a brief clip that DJ Soda posted of her standing at what appears to be her gate, her manager speaks with a man who appears to be the pilot.

DJ Soda stands silently to her manager’s right, still in her “F*CK YOU” sweatpants, with a mask on and her finger in a cast.

Several colleagues, including DJ Carta, Kinfolk Jon and Dzeko, voiced their support in the comments. Multiple users also wrote messages critical of American Airlines, with some using the throw up or angry face emoji.

With 4.3 million Instagram followers, DJ Soda is a well-known South Korean DJ and a major headliner at Asian music festivals. She also has a massive YouTube following with over 1.5 million subscribers.

Featured Image via @deejaysoda/Instagram

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